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Fighting For Redemption
To survive the harsh reality of a painful childhood, Mike too often escaped into the realm of fantasy—emulating the behavior of fictional characters that he admired in video games, Japanese anime, and movies. When hard times hit his family, he’s thrown from his bubble of aristocracy into the wake-up call of poverty, eventually being hospitalized for malnourishment. Tiny, misunderstood, insecure, and unpopular…Mike’s entire life turns around when he meets a beautiful girl named Leena, and a masochistic martial artist named Bill. Enter the Japanese-speaking mind of Mike Norton through the brutal underground world of illegal martial arts, Navy SEAL training, and the modern war on terrorism in the Middle-East.
Fighting for Redemption is the true life-story of an underdog, and the sacrifices that he makes to reclaim what matters most in life: a valiant contribution to the study of psychology delineating what constructs our senses of identity, and what it takes to push and break through the limitations of our mental and physical capabilities.
Fighting for Redemption is the true life-story of an underdog, and the sacrifices that he makes to reclaim what matters most in life: a valiant contribution to the study of psychology delineating what constructs our senses of identity, and what it takes to push and break through the limitations of our mental and physical capabilities.
- GenresMemoir
315 pages, Nook
First published March 27, 2010
About the author
Mike Norton
5 books28 followersMike Norton is a bestselling independent author and veteran of the United States military who is a 7-time winner of the USS Dwight Eisenhower award for essays of world peace and respect, as well as the CEO of StrataGem Internet Marketing.
As a self-educated vagabond, he gains inspiration from a myriad of experiences wrought from the adventures of his nomadic lifestyle; he prolifically writes and journals where ever he goes in the world, from one country to the next.
As a self-educated vagabond, he gains inspiration from a myriad of experiences wrought from the adventures of his nomadic lifestyle; he prolifically writes and journals where ever he goes in the world, from one country to the next.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 22, 2014
When it comes to non-fiction, it's one of the best reads I've had in a while.
Without a doubt, Mike Norton has made a promising start of his writing career. The book is written in a daring yet beautiful and easy to read way; it was difficult for me to put it down once I started reading it.
Having majored in English studies, I appreciated the richness of the language used as well as the carefully and professionally organized structure of the story which is something that unfortunately many of today's writers overlook. The brave approach of including a soundtrack spices the story up, and is another manner to better understand the author's mind.
Each new character that is introduced is done so with an immediate and highly detailed yet practical exposition delineating who they are, what their purpose is, and how interacting with them affected the way Mike thought and learned, providing valuable insight on every character's psychology...not just his own. This produced easily understandable and relatable aspects of cause and effect throughout the story.
Mike also accounts thorough information on military life with extreme precision. Being one who has not served in the military myself, I did online research on facts that he mentions and did not encounter a single flaw - everything's precise and accurate, from topics such as PTRR, a part of Navy SEAL training (which is not mainstream brochure information and has to be particularly searched for in order to acquire data about), to the model numbers of the helicopters used. The same can be said about the martial arts in the book; Mike explains with great realism the flaws of his own style, how he was taught, how he persevered through failure, what influences he pulled from, and how many pretty looking techniques aren't typically useful for real life confrontations. The author is extremely competent in what he writes about, which, in turn, solidifies his credibility from many different angles.
I also have noticed that Mike uses certain lines from movies, anime and other forms of media in a distinctive but sincere way. He incorporates quotes in his memoir and openly admits that he ¨stole¨ them from, for instance, a movie, sometimes not mentioning the exact source. It is a risky approach; however, those are always highlighted and where they come from is often strikingly obvious. The author does not use them as his own words. In the foreword he clarifies how those have shaped his beliefs and uses them in that manner to prove a philosophical point, and as evidence (since he actually said this in real life during the scenes) that what we watch, read, and listen to truly can and does affect the way that we think. What is more, it gives the reader a sort of a challenge to guess where he had borrowed them from, and this is something he dares the reader to do in the foreword, turning what would have been plagiarism into artistic rebellion and tactful satire.
Mike's story itself is most definitely inspiring as it shows that no matter how high or low you are in your life where you eventually end up comes down to your own choices. The author proves it more than once throughout the story, and perhaps that's the reason why some might find the events unrealistic.
Speaking about unrealistic, I respect Mike's courage to admit that he talks to an imaginary friend. You may call it crazy or insane; however, wouldn't conversing with God, your pet, or simply yourself (which I personally do all the time) fall into the same category?
Mike also breaks a few stereotypes and shows how wrong it is to judge: the video-games, movies, and the media doesn't necessarily make you violent, your skin color does not identify you as a higher or lower human being, nor does it come in a package with particular character features, domestic abuse does not always create drug addicts or criminals, and one's history of sexual partners does not automatically make them a player or slut. Each person is an individual and should be treated as equal.
He also demonstrates that everyone can change, evolve and become the person they want to be, such transformation being possible by strong determination and willpower, as well as trial and error. Mistakes do not identify people and most definitely do not make us lesser human beings; on the contrary, they can lead us to a more enlightened state of being if we so choose.
And most importantly - the past is called the past for a reason. Embrace it, learn from it, and move on. It's much easier to travel light; therefore, letting go of your past, hurts, loved ones can be incredibly painful yet absolutely essential for personal growth, peace, and wellbeing, just as the Buddhist philosophy states it (which is Mike's religion in the story). I can only imagine the agony Mike went through by renouncing Leena and I'm sure there are numbers of those who were expecting a happy ending; however, that's not how life actually works. Renouncement is not easy, still running back to something that didn't work will not miraculously make it work. And Mike proves it again: ¨Fall. Stand. Learn. Adapt.¨
I'm certain everyone can find something to relate to and learn from, again, if we chose so.
I admire the writer's courage and strength to have released such an honest autobiography for public viewing. Thanks for sharing it and all the best with the future creations!
Without a doubt, Mike Norton has made a promising start of his writing career. The book is written in a daring yet beautiful and easy to read way; it was difficult for me to put it down once I started reading it.
Having majored in English studies, I appreciated the richness of the language used as well as the carefully and professionally organized structure of the story which is something that unfortunately many of today's writers overlook. The brave approach of including a soundtrack spices the story up, and is another manner to better understand the author's mind.
Each new character that is introduced is done so with an immediate and highly detailed yet practical exposition delineating who they are, what their purpose is, and how interacting with them affected the way Mike thought and learned, providing valuable insight on every character's psychology...not just his own. This produced easily understandable and relatable aspects of cause and effect throughout the story.
Mike also accounts thorough information on military life with extreme precision. Being one who has not served in the military myself, I did online research on facts that he mentions and did not encounter a single flaw - everything's precise and accurate, from topics such as PTRR, a part of Navy SEAL training (which is not mainstream brochure information and has to be particularly searched for in order to acquire data about), to the model numbers of the helicopters used. The same can be said about the martial arts in the book; Mike explains with great realism the flaws of his own style, how he was taught, how he persevered through failure, what influences he pulled from, and how many pretty looking techniques aren't typically useful for real life confrontations. The author is extremely competent in what he writes about, which, in turn, solidifies his credibility from many different angles.
I also have noticed that Mike uses certain lines from movies, anime and other forms of media in a distinctive but sincere way. He incorporates quotes in his memoir and openly admits that he ¨stole¨ them from, for instance, a movie, sometimes not mentioning the exact source. It is a risky approach; however, those are always highlighted and where they come from is often strikingly obvious. The author does not use them as his own words. In the foreword he clarifies how those have shaped his beliefs and uses them in that manner to prove a philosophical point, and as evidence (since he actually said this in real life during the scenes) that what we watch, read, and listen to truly can and does affect the way that we think. What is more, it gives the reader a sort of a challenge to guess where he had borrowed them from, and this is something he dares the reader to do in the foreword, turning what would have been plagiarism into artistic rebellion and tactful satire.
Mike's story itself is most definitely inspiring as it shows that no matter how high or low you are in your life where you eventually end up comes down to your own choices. The author proves it more than once throughout the story, and perhaps that's the reason why some might find the events unrealistic.
Speaking about unrealistic, I respect Mike's courage to admit that he talks to an imaginary friend. You may call it crazy or insane; however, wouldn't conversing with God, your pet, or simply yourself (which I personally do all the time) fall into the same category?
Mike also breaks a few stereotypes and shows how wrong it is to judge: the video-games, movies, and the media doesn't necessarily make you violent, your skin color does not identify you as a higher or lower human being, nor does it come in a package with particular character features, domestic abuse does not always create drug addicts or criminals, and one's history of sexual partners does not automatically make them a player or slut. Each person is an individual and should be treated as equal.
He also demonstrates that everyone can change, evolve and become the person they want to be, such transformation being possible by strong determination and willpower, as well as trial and error. Mistakes do not identify people and most definitely do not make us lesser human beings; on the contrary, they can lead us to a more enlightened state of being if we so choose.
And most importantly - the past is called the past for a reason. Embrace it, learn from it, and move on. It's much easier to travel light; therefore, letting go of your past, hurts, loved ones can be incredibly painful yet absolutely essential for personal growth, peace, and wellbeing, just as the Buddhist philosophy states it (which is Mike's religion in the story). I can only imagine the agony Mike went through by renouncing Leena and I'm sure there are numbers of those who were expecting a happy ending; however, that's not how life actually works. Renouncement is not easy, still running back to something that didn't work will not miraculously make it work. And Mike proves it again: ¨Fall. Stand. Learn. Adapt.¨
I'm certain everyone can find something to relate to and learn from, again, if we chose so.
I admire the writer's courage and strength to have released such an honest autobiography for public viewing. Thanks for sharing it and all the best with the future creations!
February 5, 2012
This is the memoir of Mike, who was brought up by his mother and drug dealer father. After his father died, his mother re-married to a man called Darnell who really had no time for Mike and treated him quite cruelly. His mother changed when she re-married and with a poor homelife, and not really being very well liked at school for being different, Mike spent a lot of time at the home of his friend who's mother Betty treated him like one of the family. He also developed a relationship with an imaginary friend called Nova. On leaving school Mike tried out for the Navy Seals; took up martial arts and got himself a girlfriend. The book then goes through his different experiences in life, through school, work, relationships and an attempted suicide attempt.
Mikes upbringing lead to him appearing to become a fairly strong person on the whole, but to me along with his strength came a sort of arrogance. Whether that is just how he has portrayed himself in the book or not I don't know.
I must admit I did skim alot of the book when it came to him talking about martial arts as this is something I find quite boring. Again, with him talking alot about trying out for the Navy SEALS, I skimmed some of this too. Having said that, and without sounding sexist, a male reading the book may find it more interesting.
I liked the way the author showed his feminine side when talking about his girlfriend Leena, but really disliked him as he talked about another relationship with a girl called Phoebe. Again this may because I am a female listening to a male talk about how he treated another female.
I found the book slightly disjointed at times as it seemed to jump around from place to place. Also in parts he would talk about something as if he had already mentioned it in the book and we were supposed to know what he was on about, when it was the first time we had come across it; in particular relating to Phoebe, one of his girlfriends.
All in all, I found the book quite boring hence why I gave it 2*, but having said that another person reading it who may have interest in reading a large chunk about martial arts, and SEAL training which took up a lot of the book, may find it more enthralling.
Mikes upbringing lead to him appearing to become a fairly strong person on the whole, but to me along with his strength came a sort of arrogance. Whether that is just how he has portrayed himself in the book or not I don't know.
I must admit I did skim alot of the book when it came to him talking about martial arts as this is something I find quite boring. Again, with him talking alot about trying out for the Navy SEALS, I skimmed some of this too. Having said that, and without sounding sexist, a male reading the book may find it more interesting.
I liked the way the author showed his feminine side when talking about his girlfriend Leena, but really disliked him as he talked about another relationship with a girl called Phoebe. Again this may because I am a female listening to a male talk about how he treated another female.
I found the book slightly disjointed at times as it seemed to jump around from place to place. Also in parts he would talk about something as if he had already mentioned it in the book and we were supposed to know what he was on about, when it was the first time we had come across it; in particular relating to Phoebe, one of his girlfriends.
All in all, I found the book quite boring hence why I gave it 2*, but having said that another person reading it who may have interest in reading a large chunk about martial arts, and SEAL training which took up a lot of the book, may find it more enthralling.
January 4, 2015
Fighting for Redemption is the accounts of Mike Norton's life, in all their controversial, harsh, and downright heart-wrenching detail. In writing his memoir, the author has flawlessly stripped himself of doubt and discretion to submit this confessional tell-all. The book is astounding, mike's battles through adversity are intense and difficult to imagine as he overcomes the relentless shortcomings he was dealt in life. He vividly explains how he came to the darkest parts of his life, and how he came to be the admirable and compassionate man he is today. His memoir is the culmination of his own fight to redeem himself for the wrongs he committed to himself and to others. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews